Huntsville, Ala. | January 31, 2018 – The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) recently awarded CFD Research Corporation a $1M contract to improve upon existing materials models by incorporating state-of-the-art Peridynamics capabilities.
Computational materials modeling methods are used to interpret the signature of the debris field produced due to high speed impacts and to predict the distribution of the debris field over time. The computational methods require accurate materials models that can predict the progression of fragmentation.
“Peridynamics is an updated mesh-free continuum mechanics method, which provides a theoretical basis to model fracture and defects in a continuum solid without special treatment to handle discontinuities and without costly re-meshing to account for large strains,” said Dr. Bryce Devine, CFDRC principal investigator. Peridynamics has been well demonstrated as a method to simulate fracture in brittle materials, but has historically exhibited inaccuracy when applied to ductile fracture.
In earlier work, CFDRC demonstrated an elastic-plastic materials model with significant improvement in the accuracy of predictions of ductile failure over a range of strain rates. This translated to more accurate predictions of fragmentation patterns with improved efficiency compared to other continuum mechanics based methods.
In this project, the improved models will be integrated into a Lagrangian–Eulerian modeling framework to simulate debris patterns that arise during system level tests of hypervelocity impacts. The methodology will be verified and evaluated by comparison of model predictions to archive test data.
About CFD Research Corporation: Since its inception in 1987, CFDRC has worked with government agencies, businesses and academia to provide innovative solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, and Energy & Materials industries. Over the years CFDRC has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative component/system technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. CFDRC is an ISO9001:AS9100 registered company and is appraised at CMMI Level II for services. Learn more at www.cfdrc.com.
Contact:
Richard Thoms
Manger, Technology Partnerships
richard.thoms@cfdrc.com // 256.726.4810
